New Hampshire Lawmakers Approve Measure to Decriminalize Marijuana

Today New Hampshire’s House of Representatives passed a measure decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana by a vote of 214 to 115. The measure, House Bill 621, would decriminalize the possession of up to a quarter ounce of marijuana, making it a $200 ticket rather than an arrestable misdemeanor. The bill now moves to the Senate.

Originally the measure was written to decriminalize up to an ounce, making it an $100 ticket, but an amended version garnered more support from the state’s House.

Anthony Martinelli

Anthony is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheJointBlog. He has worked closely with numerous elected officials who support cannabis law reform, including as the former Campaign Manager for King County (WA) Councilmember Dave Upthegrove. He has been published by multiple media outlets, and is a former contributor for Village Voice Media.

Anthony can be reached at TheJointBlog@TheJointBlog.com.

1 comment

How do you figure they decriminalized marijuana if you still get a $200 ticket if you get caught with a small amount of marijuana? If marijuana were decriminalized, there would be no fine for getting caught with marijuana. If it’s truly not a criminal act to be in possession of marijuana (i.e. not even a misdemeanor), then it’s robbery of the People to impose a fine on them! I suppose it could be looked at as a step in the right direction, but that is a perspective that I cannot embrace. Prohibition is unconstitutional, plain and simple. Stealing money from Citizens for not liking something they do–which doesn’t harm anybody else in any way–is a criminal act on the part of the Government.

BTW: I don’t use marijuana, I tried it several times when I was younger but I didn’t like it. I’m a friend to responsible marijuana users because I’m a Constitution-loving Patriot and a Humanist that cares about every Citizens rights (not just the ones that are favorable to me, like many unpatriotic Americans today). Peace!